| dc.description.abstract | THE PRAYER IN THE CARMINA MINORA OF CATULLUS : A LITERARY
AND METHODOLOGICAL STUDY DIRECTED AT SOME PROBLEMS
RELATED TO LITERARY INTERPRETATION
In this study a literary and methodological investigation was undertaken
of the prayer in the Carmina minor a of Catullus, and attention was focused
on the discussion of some problems linked to literary interpretation.
Two objectives were aimed at. The first of these was to offer a systematic
literary description of the incidence and functions of the prayer within
the carmina minora. The second and equally important objective was,
by way of the study of the form, style and topoi of the Roman prayer,
and in conjunction with a discussion of the prayer texts in the carmina
minora, to reflect methodologically on some problems related to literary
interpretation - more specifically on the issue of multiple and divergent
interpretations of these poems. It was with a view to the problem of
determinacy in literary interpretation that the prayer poems of Catullus
were chosen as a topic for study. Because the prayer is a well - known
and fixed form, with established conventions, and because Catullus is
usually regarded as a very direct poet (especially in the carmina
minora) one would reasonably expect that there would not be a great deal
of divergence in the interpretation of these poems. When the history of
the reception of these poems is studied, however, the reader encounters
widely divergent and even directly opposing interpretations of the poems.
This divergence of interpretation has implications for the validity of
scholarly statements - as such the study of the prayer poems in the
carmina minora can be regarded as a test case for determinacy in literary
interpretation.
The course of the study is dialectical. On the one hand an attempt is
made by way of a study of the conventions of prayer texts and also by
way of penetrating analyses of each text to indicate what functions can
be attributed to the use of the prayer form. On the other hand a study
is made of the factors which oppose determinacy in interpretation. In
the light of this dialectic , which is sustained throughout the study, a
set of determinacy hypotheses and a set of competing hypotheses are
formulated.
The study is divided into four sections. In Section A the wider
intellectual context against which this study is to be situated is outlined.
In this section the attention is directed to the issue centering on
objectivism and relativism (or relationality) in scholarship and science.
Attention is also given to developments in the field of the Philosophy of
Science, Hermeneutics and Literary Theory. An outline is offered of
trends in the development of a philological hermeneutics, as well as to
twentieth-century trends in the study of classical poetry. In this section
an attempt is made to indicate why an objectivist view of scholarly
practice and a normative hermeneutic theory are still dominant in Classical
Philology.
In Section B attention is given to a forma l and stylistic description of
the Roman prayer. An outline is offered of prayer typologies by authors
of Antiquity and by modern researchers. The formal scheme, style and
typical topoi are discussed in detail . Subsequently a study is made of
the question as to whether it is possible to distinguish between so-called
literary and non - literary prayer texts, and various possible
distinguishing models are discussed critically.
In Section C the prayer texts which occur in Catullus' carmina minora
are discussed in four sub- sections in accordance with Kleinknecht's
prayer typology. In the first place, carmen 34 is discussed, as a text
written in accordance with the conventions of cultichymns. It is followed
by a discussion of personal prayer texts, carmina 109 and 76. In the
third place prayer parodies are discussed, both the veiled parodies in
carmina 31, 44, 2 and 17, and the open prayer parody in carmen 36.
In the final instance carmen 1, with the prayer to the muse, is discussed.
The order in which the prayer poems are discussed is not only related
to typological considerations, but also and especially with a view to the
degree of difference of opinion about their interpretation (as emerges
from the reception history of these poems). The poems about which
relatively little controversy exists are done first, with a gradual
movement towards texts about which there are profound differences of
opinion. As the investigation proceeds progressively more attention is
given to the discussion of theoretical and methodological concerns. While
both analytic and comparative methods are used, an attempt is made to
indicate why readers interpret texts differently. In this regard attention
is given to the way in which arguments are constructed in literary
argumentation, as well as to the implicit or explicit presuppositions from
which readers proceed in their interpretation of the poems. A study is
made of methods used in the study of the poems, as well as to the effect
exerted on the results of literary study by pre-theoretical, theoretical and
methodological presuppositions. In the course of the discussion attention
is directed to both the merits and the limitations associated with different
strategies of interpretation.
In the conclusion in Section D a systematic description is offered of the
incidence and functions of the prayer in the carmina minora. In this
discussion the attention is directed to the various prayer types, the
position of the prayer text in the poems, and the distribution of the
prayer texts in Catullus' oeuvre. A study is also made about how the
prayer schema, style and topoi are handled in his poetry. Attention is
given to the perspectives offered by a study of Catullus' prayer poetry
on stereo-typings of the Roman prayer, and a viewpoint is assumed about
the issue as to whether the prayer poems in the polymetra and epigrams
differ from each other.
As far as the literary functioning of the prayer poems are concerned,
the view is taken that the prayer poems can be received against the
background of what the reader knows of a prayer and would
stereo-typically expect of it. Three relations hips are identified in which
the literary prayer texts stand towards the basic form presumed to be
familiar . In the first place the prayer poem can be linked to it formally
and intentionally; in the second place the link can be purely pro
forma, but not in terms of intention ; and in the third place the prayer
text can subtly and with certain tranformations be linked to what the
reader knows and expects of a prayer, and to the attitudes typically
assocaited with this.
The poems which are discussed are then placed within this schema, and
the functions which are associated with the use of the prayer form are
identified within the context and in terms of the specific poems.
In the course of this discussion the attention is directed to Catullus'
versatility in the use of the prayer form, and to his preference for the
writing of prayer parodies. This preference is related to the anti-establishment attitude of the novi poetae.
After this systematic description the methodological problems are dealt
with, and issues centering on the required reader competence, the factors
which give rise to interpretational differences, and the problem centering
on determinacy in interpretation, especially to the extent that it involves
the validity of divergent interpretations are looked into. A critical
discussion is offered of different paradigms within which literary
investigation is undertaken. Attention is also given to the issue centering
on the comparability of results obtained from different theoretical
frameworks, and to the question about the meaningfulness of literary
interpretation.
On the basis of the findings obtained, a choice is exercised between the
determinacy hypotheses and the set of competing hypotheses formulated
in the opening chapter.
To round off this investigation, a brief look is taken at the implications
which the findings obtained in this study have for the study of classical
poetry.
It is maintained , on the one hand , that one has to shed an objectivistic
view of scholarship, and on the other hand, a case is made for a more
reflexive form of literary study, in which cognizance is clearly taken of
the reader 's share in processes of literary signification, and the role
which the scholar's theoretical and methodological presuppositions play
in the eventual results of literary study is assessed. It is finally
suggested that a study should be made of the ideologies on which various
theories and interpretative strategies rest. | en_US |
